What to know before you go
- 01
Evergreen Escapes has run guided outdoor tours from Seattle since 2006. Groups are ten guests or fewer, in high-roof vans, with a naturalist guide, snacks, a picnic lunch and park entrance fees included.
- 02
Its Mount Rainier tour takes about ten and a half hours. You walk among the big trees near Longmire, have lunch at Paradise or Sunrise and hike a few easy miles. It runs daily from May to October and on fewer days in winter, when snowshoes are provided. Ages 10 and up.
- 03
Its Olympic National Park day is about 12 hours. It starts with the ferry to Bainbridge Island, then heads to Lake Crescent, the old-growth forest, the coast or Hurricane Ridge, depending on the season and weather. The Hoh Rainforest is too far for a day trip.
- 04
The Snoqualmie Falls and wine tour visits the falls' upper and lower viewpoints, then two or three wineries, with lunch. It's for ages 21 and up.
- 05
Pickup is at downtown Seattle hotels; for some tours the Sheraton Grand on 6th Avenue is the default stop. The Rainier tour can also pick up at a hotel near the airport on request.
- 06
Tours Northwest is another family-owned Seattle company, with more than 30 years of tours. Its Mount Rainier tour runs year-round in mini-coaches, takes about 10 to 11 hours and welcomes ages 5 and up.
- 07
Routes change with weather, snow and crowds, so treat every stop as a likely plan, not a promise. Bring layers and good shoes; Evergreen Escapes lends boots and rain jackets.
Seasons, departure days and routes change. Check each operator's official site for current tours, pickup points and tickets before you go.